Boyne City commissioners OK noise study

BOYNE CITY — City officials on Tuesday approved a consulting contract with a Vermont company to study and recommend solutions for nuisance noise that comes from a wood pellet factory.

Boyne City commissioners unanimously agreed to a $14,800 contract with RSG, or Resource Systems Group. The city's Economic Development Corporation and Local Development Finance Authority approved funding the contract last week.

"It was determined RSG was the best fit," said Scott McPherson, city planning director.

The company will study noise generated by Kirtland Products wood pellet plant, analyze the data and make recommendations on possible solutions for Boyne City.

RSG is a consultation company focused on data collection, analysis and strategic business solutions for planning, transportation management, natural resources and technology. The firm has 20 years of experience and offices across the country, the nearest in Chicago.

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"They have knowledge and experience with the wood industry, to be specific," said Ryan Giem, a member of the city's citizen committee established to address the noise complaints.

Giem discussed the citizen committee's efforts to date and asked city commissioners for support on the consultation contract.

The consulting firm can begin the study on Tuesday, May 1, and it's expected the work will be done by mid-June, documents show.

Tom Monley, Kirtland Products president, said the factory remained idle in recent weeks because it still has "standing inventory."

However, some materials testing is expected to begin early next month and sound monitoring can begin then, he said.

"When they show up, we need to be in full production," said Tom Neidhamer, commissioner.

Hugh Conklin, the city's Main Street program manager and citizen committee facilitator, said the committee established by the city to consider the issue and seek solutions worked well as a community tool.

Mayor Ron Grunch thanked Giem for his presentation to the commissioners.

"Thanks for your work and your enthusiasm to move the process forward," Grunch said.

Boyne City received other offers that included a more than $33,000 bid and an approximately $5,000 bid from a one-man company that is not immediately available, officials said.

This project solely focuses on noise abatement, rather than the previous request for proposals that spanned noise, emissions and odor.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will complete emissions testing this year, in compliance with state policy when emission permits are issued. Residents' concerns about wood pellet factory emissions will be revisited when that state testing is completed, Giem said.